Veterans continue to be frustrated by problems at Fayetteville VA

Veterans continue to be frustrated by problems at Fayetteville VA

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — A congressional hearing into the way VA medical centers treat patients was held Monday night on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers wanted to know how the VA plans to speed up care for veterans.

WTVD-TV reported that a recent report showed the Fayetteville VA had some of the longest patient wait times in the country.

From their home near Hope Mills, Ron and Mary Kizer said the wrong people were doing the talking on Capitol Hill.

“I think they need to get the veterans up there,” said Mary Kitzer. “Let the veterans do the talking some.”

“I think it’s just more of the same,” said Ron Kitzer. “They are going to have to show me, with as much problems as we have had over the years.”

The couple says they’ve complained of poor quality medical care at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center for more than 10 years. They said they have documented misdiagnosed problems, and extremely long waits for appointments. The Kitzers said the VA hospital’s director said she would no longer deal with them.

“Actually, the letter says we are refusing to treat you because you have complained about the misleading, and stuff like that,” said Ron.

The Kitzers said Monday’s congressional hearing on the VA’s ability to provide proper care for veterans may be a step in the right direction. The hearing came on the same day that North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan visited the Fayetteville VA Medical Center, and met with staff and administrators..

Afterward, Hagan issued this statement which said, “I believe there are some additional steps we can take immediately, including expediting the process for leasing additional space to accommodate veterans and examining more ways to ensure enough medical personnel are on hand to administer care.”

For the Kitzers, it’s too little too late.

“I don’t trust the VA to treat me anymore,” said Mary. “I just feel like they are just trying to throw me out of the hospital, you know. They don’t want me to come there whatsoever, because we have complained whenever they have done something to me.”

Hagan says she will talk with reporters Tuesday about here visit to the Fayetteville VA.

In the meantime, the Kitzers will keep up their efforts if not for themselves, but other vets as well.